Ssanggye Tea
Ssanggye Tea presentation
Ssanggye Tea brings over five decades of Korean tea mastery to matcha enthusiasts seeking authentic alternatives to Japanese traditions. Since 1966, this renowned South Korean brand has refined the art of producing premium shade-grown green tea powder using time-honored stone-grinding techniques that preserve the vibrant color and complex flavors tea lovers prize.
Rooted in Traditional Korean Tea Craftsmanship
The foundation of Ssanggye Tea’s reputation lies in their adherence to traditional processing methods. Young tea leaves are carefully cultivated in shaded conditions, which increases chlorophyll content and creates that distinctive deep green hue. Each batch is stone-ground using methods passed down through generations, ensuring a smooth, fine texture that dissolves beautifully in both hot and cold preparations.
This meticulous approach differentiates their powder from mass-produced alternatives. The slower grinding process prevents heat damage that can compromise flavor and nutritional value.
Versatility Meets Ceremonial Quality
Ssanggye Tea’s green tea powder serves multiple purposes in the matcha community. Whether you’re preparing a traditional tea ceremony, blending a daily wellness drink, or incorporating it into baking recipes, the powder maintains its integrity and flavor profile. The 40g packaging provides an ideal quantity for exploring Korean tea traditions without committing to larger amounts.
Users appreciate the authentic taste that reflects Korea’s distinct tea-growing regions. The flavor profile offers a refreshing alternative to those familiar only with Japanese matcha varieties.
What Sets This Brand Apart
Several factors distinguish Ssanggye Tea in the competitive matcha marketplace:
- Korean heritage offering regional flavor diversity beyond Japanese matcha
- Traditional stone-grinding that preserves nutritional compounds and prevents oxidation
- Shade-grown cultivation methods that enhance amino acid content and reduce bitterness
- Accessible pricing that makes premium tea powder available to daily drinkers
The brand’s longevity since 1966 speaks to consistent quality standards and deep expertise in tea cultivation. For matcha enthusiasts looking to expand their palate beyond familiar Japanese varieties, Ssanggye Tea provides an authentic entry point into Korea’s rich tea culture. Their commitment to traditional processing methods ensures each cup delivers the full spectrum of flavors and benefits that shade-grown, stone-ground tea powder can offer.
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Matcha produced by Ssanggye Tea
Korean Green Tea Powder Collection
Ssanggye Tea offers a distinctive approach to matcha with their Korean Green Tea Powder, available in 40g packages. This premium product represents their interpretation of traditional matcha, crafted using shade-grown tea leaves and processed through traditional stone grinding methods. The powder delivers a lighter, more refreshing taste compared to Japanese matcha, with a notably smoother texture that sets it apart in the market.
Their flagship product is often classified as ceremonial grade, indicating top-tier quality suitable for direct consumption and traditional tea ceremonies. The Korean Green Tea Powder maintains the authentic characteristics of Korean tea culture while meeting modern quality standards.
Organic Green Tea Range
The Ssanggye Organic Green Tea line showcases their commitment to sustainable farming practices. These products are crafted from 100% organically grown tea leaves, cultivated without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. The organic processing results in a fresh, earthy aroma with a smooth, clean taste profile. This naturally caffeinated tea provides a gentle energy lift, making it ideal for both morning and afternoon consumption.
Available formats include traditional tea bags (1.2g x 40 count) and loose leaf varieties. The brand distributes through multiple channels including Kosbee, Etsy, eBay, and Weee!, ensuring accessibility for tea enthusiasts worldwide.
History of Ssanggye Tea
Ssanggye Tea represents more than half a century of Korean tea craftsmanship, beginning its journey in 1966 when tea master Mr. Kim envisioned putting Korean tea on the global map. This ambitious dream materialized into Ssanggye Tea Co., Ltd. in 1975, establishing its roots in Hwagae, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do.
Hadong holds special significance as the heart of Korean tea culture, offering a unique terroir that shapes the character of Ssanggye’s teas. The company didn’t merely open a business—they became guardians of this ancient heritage, specializing in handmade green and fermented teas that honor traditional Korean methods.
The connection to Ssanggye Temple adds profound historical depth to the brand’s story. According to Dr. Lee Sun-keun, this temple represents Korea’s first tea farm, linking the company to the very origins of Korean tea cultivation. This heritage is preserved and celebrated through their tea museum in Hadong, which serves as a living tribute to the region’s rich tea history.
What distinguishes Ssanggye from modern tea operations is their unwavering commitment to traditional farming and harvesting methods. While many farms have adopted mechanized processes for efficiency, Ssanggye continues to rely on skilled farmers who harvest by hand, personally inspecting each batch for color, aroma, and taste. The timing of harvest remains crucial—leaves are picked when there are three to five sprouts at exactly the right size, balancing yield with optimal quality.
Their Korean Green Tea Powder represents a unique interpretation of matcha, offering a lighter, more refreshing taste with a smoother texture compared to Japanese varieties. This ceremonial grade powder reflects their commitment to quality over quantity, crafted from 100% organically grown tea leaves nurtured without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
3 events from Ssanggye Tea's history
January 1966
Tea Production Begins
Ssanggye Tea begins its tea-making journey under the vision of tea master Mr. Kim, who aimed to establish Korean tea on the global stage and develop Korea’s tea industry through research and traditional methods.
January 1975
Company Establishment
Ssanggye Tea Co., Ltd. is formally established in Hwagae, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, positioning itself in the heart of Korean tea culture where the unique terroir shapes their distinctive tea character.
January 1975
Heritage Preservation Initiative
The company becomes guardians of Korean tea heritage, specializing in handmade green and fermented teas while establishing their tea museum in Hadong as a living tribute to the region’s rich tea history.
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Frequent questions
Find below some answers to the most common questions about Ssanggye Tea.
What makes Ssanggye's Korean Green Tea Powder different from traditional Japanese matcha?
Ssanggye Korean Green Tea Powder offers a distinctly Korean interpretation of powdered green tea. Unlike Japanese matcha, Ssanggye’s version has a lighter, more refreshing taste with a notably smoother texture. While it’s shade-grown and stone-ground like premium Japanese matcha, the Korean terroir of Hadong-gun creates unique flavor characteristics.
The powder is often labeled as ceremonial grade, making it perfect for drinking straight rather than just cooking applications. This reflects Ssanggye’s commitment to preserving Korean tea traditions that date back to their founding in 1966.
How does Ssanggye maintain quality through their traditional hand-harvesting methods?
Ssanggye continues using traditional hand-harvesting techniques even as other Hadong farms have switched to machinery for summer teas. Their skilled farmers pick leaves at the optimal time when there are three to five sprouts and the leaves reach exactly the right size.
Each batch undergoes personal inspection for color, aroma, and taste. This hands-on approach, maintained since their establishment in 1975, ensures that timing is perfect – harvesting too early reduces yield, while harvesting too late compromises the tea’s quality and flavor profile.
Where can I purchase authentic Ssanggye Organic Green Tea online?
Ssanggye Organic Green Tea is available through several verified online platforms:
- Kosbee – Features their organic green tea with detailed product descriptions
- Etsy – Offers the Korean Green Tea Powder in 40g packages
- eBay – Various Ssanggye products including tea bags
- Weee! – Asian grocery platform with authentic Korean teas
When purchasing, look for the official Ssanggye (쌍계명차) branding to ensure you’re getting authentic products crafted from their 100% organically grown tea leaves from Hadong.
What's the connection between Ssanggye Tea and the historic Ssanggye Temple?
Ssanggye Temple holds special significance as what Dr. Lee Sun-keun identified as Korea’s first tea farm. This historical connection adds profound depth to Ssanggye Tea’s heritage and validates their role as guardians of Korean tea culture.
Located in Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, the same region where Ssanggye Tea Co., Ltd. was established in 1975, this temple represents the birthplace of Korean tea cultivation. The company’s tea museum in Hadong serves as a living tribute to this rich history, demonstrating their commitment to preserving and continuing Korea’s ancient tea traditions.
Why does Ssanggye focus specifically on Hadong terroir for their tea production?
Hadong represents the heart of Korean tea culture with a terroir unlike anywhere else in Korea. Since 1966, Ssanggye recognized this region’s unique environmental conditions that create their tea’s distinctive characteristics.
The fresh, earthy aroma of their organic green tea directly reflects Hadong’s specific climate and soil conditions. By maintaining their operations in Hwagae, Hadong-gun since 1975, Ssanggye ensures their teas capture the authentic essence of Korea’s premier tea-growing region, where traditional methods and natural terroir combine to produce teas with unmatched Korean character.
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